Perth’s first virtual gold trail to launch at Elizabeth Quay

The Gold Industry Group announced the launch of its Heart of Gold Discovery Trail, which will take place at Elizabeth Quay on Saturday 7 October, at Diggers & Dealers today.

The Heart of Gold Discovery Trail will be the first virtual trail of its kind to give the community an interactive ‘gold’ experience via the free Heart of Gold app.

“The trail is set to excite and entertain people of all ages who visit the city, as they learn the story of gold and how its changed the cityscape and secured the economic future of Western Australia and the nation,” said Richard Hayes, Gold Industry Group Chairman and The Perth Mint Chief Executive Officer.

“Using augmented reality, enticing audio visuals, games and more, the app will engage residents and tourists alike as it tells the tale of a city built on gold.”

Starting at Elizabeth Quay and ending at the historic Perth Mint, the gold treasure trail will take visitors on a journey of discovery – from 2017 back to the early gold rushes as it signals 12 locations of historical significance throughout the city.

“To mark the opening and the commencement of the trail, we will unveil a replica of the famous Golden Eagle nugget, which is one of the largest specimens found in Western Australia. We will also pay tribute to the traditional owners of the land with a welcome to country ceremony in Elizabeth Quay from 10am,” said Mr Hayes.

Elizabeth Quay will be a hub of activity throughout the day, with trailblazers having the chance to win an array of prizes including real nuggets from the Ramelius Resources’ gold mine when they pan for gold with The Perth Mint or complete the trail on the day.

Mining Education Australia and the WA School of Mines have also joined together to give visitors the opportunity to see inside a gold mine using virtual reality.

To further enhance the gold theme, other attractions will include a virtual scavenger hunt, face painting and Heart of Gold social media competitions.

“Part of our vision for this community engagement project is to educate and engage future generations, which has already been reflected in the feedback we’ve received from the education sector and community organisations,” said Kelly Carter, Gold Industry Group Vice Chair and Gold Fields Australia Vice President of Legal and Compliance.

“The Heart of Gold Discovery Trail will offer a fun and educational experience, so we will be providing lesson plans linked to the trail for Year 5 and 9 students to all schools across the State,” said Mrs Carter.

Perth’s gold trail will be the first of many digital journeys proposed to share the story of Australian gold.

Next year will mark 125 years since Paddy Hannan, Thomas Flanagan and Dan O’Shea found gold at the base of Mt Charlotte, sparking the biggest gold rush in Western Australia’s history. At the time, more than 25,000 men and women from around the world descended on what is now known as the Golden Mile to seek their fortune.

“To celebrate this anniversary and honour those brave prospectors, a second gold trail will be launched in Kalgoorlie-Boulder in 2018,” said Mr Hayes.

“Kalgoorlie-Boulder is where it all started and, still today, it remains the richest source of gold in the world.

“We look forward to working with the industry, local council, schools and the community on this project, as it is through initiatives such as these that we will continue the legacy of gold across the country,” said Mr Hayes.

The free Heart of Gold app will be available to download from Saturday 30 September 2017.